Regulatory Updates

Distribution date: 03 April 2008 | Final date for Comment: 02 June 2008

The proposal sets new maximum levels for lead, cadmium and mercury in food supplements. For lead a maximum level of 3.0 mg/kg for all food supplements is proposed. For cadmium a maximum level of 1.0 mg/kg is proposed for all food supplements, excl. food supplements consisting exclusively or mainly of dried seaweed or of products derived from seaweed. For the latter group a maximum level of 3.0 mg/kg is proposed. For mercury a maximum level of 0.10 mg/kg for all food supplements is proposed.

Products Covered: Food supplements, understood as numerous food products used as complement to normal diet, normally circulating under Chapters 21, 29 and 30, mostly under headings 2106, 2109, 3004)

Regulation Type: Regular notification

Distribution date: 03 April 2008

The EC is notifying hereby a "Draft Commission Regulation amending Annexes VIII, X and XI to Regulation (EC) No 1774/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards the import of blood products for the manufacture of technical products" (SANCO/10402/2007 Rev.5, available in English, 16 pages). The aim of the proposal is to facilitate trade of blood products. Further details are provided below. Background: Regulation 1774/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 3 October 2002 laying down health rules concerning animal by-products not intended for human consumption (O. J. L273, 10 October 2002 pp. 1-95, notified in G/SPS/N/EEC/103 dated 24 November 2000) provides for rules concerning the means of disposal and uses of animal by-products, including blood and blood fractions which are destined for uses other than human consumption. This regulation has received numerous comments concerning the trade on blood and blood fractions for uses other than human consumption such as animal feed or technological uses; in response to these comments and following more up to date risk analysis, the following two actions have been taken: As regards to heat-treated blood fractions from non-ruminant animals which have undergone ante-mortem inspection, in Document SANCO/10586/2006 Rev.6 (notified in G/SPS/N/EEC/103 Add.20 dated 21 November 2007) the Commission clarified its legal status by qualifying them as bloodmeal normally circulating under HS subheading 2301, and extended the heat-treatments to blood fractions which are already applicable to whole blood. The proposal notified thereby "Commission Regulation amending Annexes I, V and VII to Regulation (EC) No. 1774/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council laying down health rules concerning animal by-products not intended for human consumption", will be adopted and published soon. As regard to animal blood for technological uses, normally circulating under HS subheading 30.02 the regulation only allows imports when the country or region of origin is free from certain diseases without vaccination, furthermore it excluded imports of blood from animals treated with certain substances having a hormonal or thyrostatic action and of ß-agonists. This proposal: Following more up to date scientific advice, the European Commission is proposing: 1. to delete the condition of that blood products of ruminant are allowed only if region of origin must be eligible for the import of live animals into the Community; 2. to allow imports of untreated blood products of ruminants from countries or regions which are free from foot and mouth disease with vaccination under condition of that imported blood is channelled to their place of destination under secure conditions for further processing; 3. to extend the lists of third countries authorised to export blood products intended for technical purposes, to include countries which are able to comply with the treatment requirements (Separate health certificates are laid down for treated and untreated blood products); 4. to allow the imports of into the Community of blood derived from animals treated with certain substances having a hormonal or thyrostatic action and of ß-agonists; and 5. to update the requirements related to the import of blood products from poultry and other avian species by referring to the international standards laid down in the Terrestrial Animal Health Code of the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE). Other relevant documents: A consolidated version (date of reference 1 January 2007) of regulation 1774/2002 in English, French and Spanish is available from the hyperlink indicated below: http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CONSLEG:2002R1774:20070101:EN:PDF http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CONSLEG:2002R1774:20070101:FR:PDF http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CONSLEG:2002R1774:20070101:ES:PDF or http://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2008/sps/EEC/08_1001_00_e.pdf More information on import conditions for materials of animal origin not intended for human consumption to the EC can be obtained in the hyperlink indicated below: http://ec.europa.eu/food/food/biosafety/animalbyproducts/index_en.htm Proposed date of adoption: As soon as possible Proposed date of application: Cannot be foreseen now. Most probably six month after the date of adoption. Final date for comments: This is a trade facilitation measure. Comment period does not apply. The notified document can be obtained from the EC Enquiry Point: sps@ec.europa.eu.

Products Covered:

Regulation Type: Addendum to Regular Notification

Distribution date: 31 March 2008 | Final date for Comment: 07 April 2008

The notified regulation opens a 30-days period for public consultation on the draft normative instruction that approves the definitions and standards on the specifications, guarantees, tolerances, registration, packaging and labeling of organic fertilizers - simple, mixed, compounds, mineral-organic fertilizers and biofertilizers for agriculture.

Products Covered: Organic fertilizers - simple, mixed and compounds, mineral-organic fertilizers and biofertilizers for agriculture

Regulation Type: Regular notification

Distribution date: 31 March 2008

La República de Colombia comunica con relación al proyecto de Resolución del Ministerio de la Protección Social "Por la cual se establece el reglamento técnico sobre los requisitos fisicoquímicos y microbiológicos que deben cumplir los productos de la pesca, en particular pescados, moluscos y crustáceos para el consumo humano", notificado el 2 de abril de 2007 por la Organización Mundial del Comercio mediante el documento identificado con la signatura G/SPS/N/COL/136, que éste ha sido expedido mediante la Resolución Nº 0776 del Ministerio de la Protección Social, el 3 de marzo de 2008. Texto disponible en el Ministerio de Comercio, Industria y Turismo, Dirección de Regulación, Organismo Nacional encargado de la Notificación: Punto de Contacto: Responsable: Daniel Héctor Rico R. Calle 28 Nº 13A - 15, tercer piso Bogotá, D.C., Colombia Correo electrónico: drico@mincomercio.gov.co Tel: +(571) 606 7676, Ext.1690 Fax: +(571) 241 0480

Products Covered:

Regulation Type: Addendum to Regular Notification

Distribution date: 28 March 2008

Phytosanitary requirements for the importation into Ecuador from New Zealand of protea (Protea sp.) plants rooted in artificial substrate for seed.

Products Covered: Protea (Protea sp.)

Regulation Type: Regular notification

Distribution date: 19 March 2008

The Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu proposed amendments to the Specification, Scope and Application Standards of Food Additives: Magnesium silicate (synthetic) on 26 November 2007 (G/SPS/N/TPKM/120). The final amendment has entered into force on 11 March 2008. For further information or copies of the final amendment, please contact the National Enquiry Point: Bureau of Food Safety, Department of Health, 12F, 100 Ai-Kuo E. Rd., Taipei, Taiwan; Tel: +(886 2) 2321-0151 ext 104; Fax: +(886 2) 2392-9723; E-mail: fsawona@doh.gov.tw http://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2008/sps/TPKM/08_0828_00_e.pdf

Products Covered:

Regulation Type: Addendum to Regular Notification

Distribution date: 19 March 2008

The Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu proposed amendments to the Specification, Scope and Application Standards of Food Additives: Steviol glycoside on 5 December 2007 (G/SPS/N/TPKM/121). The final amendment has entered into force on 11 March 2008. For further information or copies of the final amendment, please contact the National Enquiry Point: Bureau of Food Safety, Department of Health, 12F, 100 Ai-Kuo E. Rd., Taipei, Taiwan; Tel: +(886 2) 2321-0151 ext 104; Fax: +(886 2) 2392-9723; E-mail: fsawona@doh.gov.tw http://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2008/sps/TPKM/08_0829_00_e.pdf

Products Covered:

Regulation Type: Addendum to Regular Notification

Distribution date: 11 March 2008 | Final date for Comment: 05 May 2008

This regulation establishes a tolerance for residues of flumioxazin in or on alfalfa, forage at 3 ppm; alfalfa, hay at 8 ppm; asparagus at .02 ppm; bean, dry seed at .05 ppm; bushberry subgroup 13-07B at .02 ppm; melon, subgroup 9A at .02 ppm; nut, tree, group 14 at .02 ppm; okra at .02 ppm; and vegetable, fruiting, group 8 at .02 ppm. This regulation is effective 5 March 2008. Objections and requests for hearings must be received on or before 5 May 2008, and may be identified by docket number EPA-HQ-OPP-2007-0308. This notice can be found at: Federal Register: 5 March 2008 (Volume 73, Number 44)Rules and Regulations Page 11826-11831 http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/EPA-PEST/2008/March/Day-05/p4102.htm This action is subsequent to a proposed rule published in the Federal Register of 27 June 2007, in which the Agency announced the receipt of a petition requesting the above changes. No comments were received in response to this petition. This notice can be found at: Federal Register: 27 June 2007 (Volume 72, Number 123)Notices Page 35237-35242 http://www.epa.gov/EPA-PEST/2007/June/Day-27/p12036.htm

Products Covered:

Regulation Type: Addendum to Regular Notification

Distribution date: 29 February 2008

La República de Colombia comunica con relación al Decreto Nº 3249 del 18 de septiembre de 2006 "Por el cual se reglamenta la fabricación, comercialización, envase, rotulado o etiquetado, régimen de registro sanitario, de control de calidad, de vigilancia sanitaria y control sanitario de los suplementos dietarios, se dictan otras disposiciones y se deroga el Decreto N° 3636 de 2005" del Ministerio de la Protección Social, notificado mediante el documento identificado con la signatura G/TBT/N/COL/65/Add.2 del 3 de noviembre de 2006, que éste ha sido modificado en su artículo 52, mediante el Decreto Nº 4857 del 18 de diciembre de 2007 del Ministerio de la Protección Social. Texto disponible en el Ministerio de Comercio, Industria y Turismo, Dirección de Regulación, Organismo Nacional encargado de la notificación:

Products Covered:

Regulation Type: Addendum to Regular Notification

Distribution date: 05 February 2008

Products Covered: Tank Steel for LPG  (HS:7311.00.91.00; 7311.00.99.00);  Valve of Tank Steel for LPG (HS.8481.80.21.00); LPG Stove of One Tank with Mechanic Burning (HS: 7321.11.00.00; HS:  7321.81.00.00 and HS:  7321.90.90.00) Low Pressure Regulator for LPG Tank Steel (

Regulation Type: Regular notification